NEW BEDFORD — Many people hoping for a last glimpse of the whaleship Morgan were frustrated this morning when the ship left State Pier a half hour before its scheduled departure time of 7:30 a.m.

By the time the time arrived, the Morgan was under tow well outside of the hurricane barrier and heading into Buzzards Bay where a strong breeze was blowing.

An hour after leaving the dock, the Morgan had cast off her tow and was under nearly full sail off West Island in Fairhaven, headed for the channel leading to the Cape Cod Canal.

By 10 a.m. the Morgan was once again being towed by the Tisbury-based tugboat Sirius, owned by Ralph Packer. Her sister tug, the Thuban, was awaiting the Morgan in the channel as the Morgan approached at about 4 knots.

Aboard as a guest was state Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford, who had secured state funding to kick off the fundraising to defray the $600,000 cost of hosting the ship's homecoming.

The handful of people on State Pier who had arrived early enough to see the Morgan leave included Michael Dyer, senior curator of the New Bedford Whaling Museum. As the crew of the Morgan prepared to cast off, Dyer read from a list of 585 crew members who served aboard the Morgan in her 80-year whaling career. He got halfway through as the ship set off.

Retired city Assessor Peter Barney, a great-great-grandson of Zachariah Hillman, builder of the Morgan in 1841, read a tribute to the Morgan:

"A messenger from the nineteenth century to the 21st century, the embodiment of the craftsmanship of the builders, the testament to the seamanship of the captains, mates, and crews who manned the ship on its many voyages,

And the living monument to the dedication and skills of the many craftsman and preservationists who have rebirthed this ship.

"For all of us as the Morgan begins to make sail from the port of its creation, we, the sons and daughters of the bringers of light, offer this blessing as you go on your way: fair winds, full sails and safe harbors. Set sail and go forth on the calm waters."

The Morgan will berth overnight at Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay before setting off for Provincetown, where she will not be open for visitors. Two days of whale-watching on Stellwagen Bank are planned before moving on to Boston later this month.

The Morgan will be berthed alongside the USS Constitution July 18-22 at the Charlestown Navy Yard.